Port Headaches Continues

Evey Hwang, CBFANC President

Then there’s rail conundrum.  Rail service is the seaport’s link to inland destinations.   However as reported by Stas Margonis of American Journal of Transportation, recent service issues caused the Federal Railroad Administrator Ron Batory and Surface Transportation Board Chair Ann Begeman to offer statement:
 “Recently, however, we have been made aware of service issues, including missed industrial switches and excessively late or annulled trains due to crew availability issues. As you know, with both increasing intermodal and carload volumes and a projected robust harvest fast approaching, railroad employee availability, together with sufficient equipment resourcing, is essential for safe, fluid rail service in support of the nation’s economic recovery. Given the challenges related to changing demand patterns and operating conditions, increased communication and transparency with rail shippers is especially important to ensure they have the information needed to plan their businesses and meet their own customers’ needs.”  https://ajot.com/insights/full/ai-consultant-says-shippers-using-u.s-west-coast-ports-cant-book-rail-on-bnsf-and-up
Per September 29 Journal of Commerce article, Bill Mongelluzzo stated that although “Southern California gateway offers more direct rail services to inland destinations than any other US Port”, per Mercator Group study “it appears the eastern railroads charge less per mile than the western railroads”.   As reported by Mr. Mongelluzzo, Pacific Maritime Association stated “although West Coast ports have no control over intermodal rail pricing, they can work with terminal operators, labor railroads, and state environmental regulators to improve the efficiency of the marine terminal-to-rail transfer”.   https://www.joc.com/port-news/us-ports/rail-related-costs-harm-west-coast-competitiveness-study_20200929.html